Today I felt a sigh of relief when the huge rucks came and lowered gravel and stepping stones onto the Orca Playground- more tangible signs the nature council ring and our rain garden will be built at tomorrow’s work party. There have been three years of playground meetings and emails trying to organize a vision, get grants, and finally build this first phase of the playground. Finally phase one is almost achieved, including some naturalization.
When the building began this summer I still felt a bit concerned that the fruits of our labor had mostly yielded more concrete and a small new play structure; however today I realized it has been and will be much more than that. First of all, the meetings have built community, trust, and friendships that otherwise would not be cultivated. Secondly, the added concrete which has included a path around the field has meant that the playground is much more accessible to all people, including our students in wheel chairs, our neighborhood kids on bikes and scooters kickball and foursquare players and even pedestrians. The work has actually activated the playground just by giving access and safe passage. Finally with the green plantings and rain garden going in and an added outdoor council ring there will be more opportunities for learning in nature. The council will be a wonderful place for classrooms to go out and explore and write. It will be a place for families to gather as they watch their children play. It is will be a connection to the land and community and it has added to our play field's own ecological story by sourcing local logs and boulders.
The research continues to be sound that time in nature is beneficial to student learning. I believe it will be beneficial to our community's future. Thank you to all of the people and companies who have helped get us this far including but not limited to the Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle Schools and WA Green Schools. I am looking forward to tomorrow's work party!
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